Last updated at 11:17, Saturday, 08 September 2012

AROUND 40 tonnes of hay being stored in a barn at Abbey House Farm, Abbeytown, burst into flames causing extensive damage.

Twenty firefighters from Aspatria, Wigton and Carlisle were at the scene for up to five hours on Thursday. They say it is common for fires to start in damp hay, which can spontaneously combust.

Half the bales were destroyed and the others heavily smoke damaged.

The partially-completed barn also contained fertiliser, which is potentially explosive, but firefighters moved it clear.

n An agricultural building at Newbiggin, near Penrith, caught fire last night .

Fire crews from Carlisle, Penrith and Shap were called out about 7pm.

A spokesman said: “There were two barns on fire. There were tractors and diesel and a plume of asbestos smoke coming from the barn so we had the water bowser out and the environmental unit for foam.”

First published at 10:49, Saturday, 08 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk